Ramps for guineas

[Denise26]

I’m very new to owning guinea pigs, I got a hutch for them out side which is for guinea pigs, but I was concerned they wasn’t going down the bottom using the ramp, one of them now is and is spending time down there but I’m just concerned as I have had some negative feed back on face book that they shouldn’t be using the ramp can anyone advice obviously I don’t want my pigs to get hurt but I don’t know what else I can do I wouldn’t say it is overly steep. Can post picture if people need to see

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum

Piggies are ground dwelling animals and prefer flat surfaces so climbing isn’t a natural movement for them. Due to that, single storey hutches are advised but double storey with ramps are not a total no-no. They just don’t need double storey areas/hutches (upper levels also don’t count towards the space). Some piggies will happily use a ramp, some learn in time, some will do it once or twice then stop bothering to go up anymore, others will flatly refuse to ever do it. It’s not so easy as they should never have them, it’s just that they don’t always work out and if they do have them you have to make sure it is appropriate in all elements.

You can risk ending up in a situation where the piggies unintentionally isolate themselves due to not wanting to use it.
In boars one piggy can claim the ramp/upper level as their territory and refuse to let the other use it.
Also as they get older, ramps can become difficult for them to use (arthritis etc).
It can also be easier to keep a single level hutch warm enough outside in winter (if they are staying out year round and you would like advice on keeping them outside in winter then do ask).

The practical issues with ramps in most commercial hutches (which put piggies off using them or make them unsafe) are:
how steep they are
the fact they don’t usually have proper grip (just a few strips of wood across like a ladder which is not suitable for piggies).
they don’t have high sides so it can scare them and pose a risk of falling.
and the hole on the top level which leads down to the ramp is a fall risk.

If you can ensure it isn’t steep (pop a brick underneath), has some proper grip on it (such as covering it with carpet), add wooden sides to the ramp, add a banister to the top so they cannot fallen down - then these things can help (although if a piggy is one who simply won’t use a ramp then nothing is going to change that!).

Also remember that upper levels do not count towards or double the cage space - due to piggies being ground roaming it’s only the bottom level which counts - so the hutch has to be big enough on that one ground level.
So it needs to be a 5ft hutch for two sows (or a neutered boar and sow pair) and a 6ft hutch for two boars.

Do go ahead and post a picture of the hutch and ramp if you would like to. Do be aware that not all hutches are suitable despite being sold as such.

I hope this helps

Ramps in Cages and Hutches

 

[Denise26]

Welcome to the forum

Piggies are ground dwelling animals and prefer flat surfaces so climbing isn’t a natural movement for them. Due to that, single storey hutches are advised but double storey with ramps are not a total no-no. They just don’t need double storey areas/hutches (upper levels also don’t count towards the space). Some piggies will happily use a ramp, some learn in time, some will do it once or twice then stop bothering to go up anymore, others will flatly refuse to ever do it. It’s not so easy as they should never have them, it’s just that they don’t always work out and if they do have them you have to make sure it is appropriate in all elements.

You can risk ending up in a situation where the piggies unintentionally isolate themselves due to not wanting to use it.
In boars one piggy can claim the ramp/upper level as their territory and refuse to let the other use it.
Also as they get older, ramps can become difficult for them to use (arthritis etc).
It can also be easier to keep a single level hutch warm enough outside in winter (if they are staying out year round and you would like advice on keeping them outside in winter then do ask).

The practical issues with ramps in most commercial hutches (which put piggies off using them or make them unsafe) are:
how steep they are
the fact they don’t usually have proper grip (just a few strips of wood across like a ladder which is not suitable for piggies).
they don’t have high sides so it can scare them and post a risk of falling.
and the hole on the top level which leads down to the ramp is a fall risk.

If you can ensure it isn’t steep (pop a brick underneath), has some proper grip on it (such as covering it with carpet), add wooden sides to the ramp, add a banister to the top so they cannot fallen down - then these things can help (although if a piggy is one who simply won’t use a ramp then nothing is going to change that!).

Also remember that upper levels do not count towards or double the cage space - due to piggies being ground roaming it’s only the bottom level which counts - so the hutch has to be big enough on that one ground level.
So it needs to be a 5ft hutch for two sows (or a neutered boar and sow pair) and a 6ft hutch for two boars.

Do go ahead and post a picture of the hutch and ramp if you would like to. Do be aware that not all hutches are suitable despite being sold as such.

I hope this helps

Ramps in Cages and Hutches

Thank you